AND THE TURF. 1 



the race-horfe. His winter is ufually fpent. in 

 the paddock and loofe ftable, enjoying himfelf 

 at his eafe, until the period of phyfic arrive, 

 which mufi: be fo fixed, that there be at leaft 

 an interval of two months between the laft 

 dofe and the firfl: race : this interval is of courfe 

 fpent in exercife. I afTume here, with the in- 

 tention of proving it anon, that no race-horfe 

 can perform, to the full extent of his natural 

 powers, without the aid of purgatives. The 

 fpring and fummer are palled in exercife and 

 racing, the horfe perhaps travelling to a num- 

 ber of different courfes in the country : a racer 

 travels, I fuppofe, from twenty to twenty-four 

 miles per day, and much travel upon the hard 

 road, mufl; in courfe abate his fpeed, whence 

 the advantage in the race of thofe which have 

 been conllantly upon the fpot. I have been 

 affured by grooms, that a horfe in the midfl of 

 the racing feafon, when a fufficient interval can 

 be fpared, is frequently much benefitted by a 

 dofe of phyfic ; which I can eafily credit, pro^ 

 vided the purge be mild and cooling : from the 

 violent nature of his labour, and the excefs of 

 his feeding, the blood of t1!e animal may be in 

 too inflammatory, or too denfe and fluggifh a 

 ftate, and his general habit too much con- 

 ftringed. 



It has been the advice of many theoretical 

 writers, to keep a horfe until five years old 



VOL. II. o before 



